ATTACKING A JUDGE IN COURT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1333, 8 January 1881, Page 2

ATTACKING A JUDGE IN COURT.

The Golos contains a letter front Novgorod, describing a scene that took place in Court there ou the sth inst; The case under examination was that of a convict named Tacas Polejaeffj charged with the murder of a fellowprisoner. The accused was known to be a most violent man, and having uttered threats against the judicial authorities on his way to the Courtj the officer in charge of the escort ordered him to be searched and deprived of his boots before being placed ill the dock., From carelessness or haste the latter were not removed, and Pdleijaeff \vns allowed to enter.the dock wearing he&Vy hoh-tiailed convict shoesi The trial of a murderer had attracted a large holy of spectators, and the Court was crammVa. with people. In reply to the deniand of the judge whether he intended;tb\ summon witnesses for bis defence, the prisoner, a short thick-set man of 44, replied with a loud, firm voice, " I will not be tried here. My trial shall" take place 'elsewhere ; at Moscow or St. Petersburg." The judge, taking no. notice of this, exelaiiued, "Let the case proceed." Hardly had the words been uttered, whenTaras Polejaeffstooped down, slipped off one of his shoes, and hurled it at the judge's head, knocking the unfortunate funo tionary across the eyebrows and-cover* ing his face with blood. There was a general cry of horror oo the part of the spectators, who, the next moment} were seized with a panic, fearing the 1 desperado would hurl his remaining shoe at them. Amid the hubbub thd gendarmes rushed forward to sieze the prisoner who struggled violently, and gave vent to the most frightful curses. In the end he was overcome and manacled, the judge having had his face bound up, and the female spectators being restored to sensibility} the case was formally conducted to a terminal ion—au account of the 1 affair being drawn up, and a summary telegraphed to the Minister of Justice. It is lieved that the murderer will be tried by martial law for the attack on the judge. . . '